Radio Interferometric Research of Ionosphere by Signals of Space Satellites

Since 2012, the Radiophysical Research Institute and the Lobachevsky State University at Nizhny Novgorod, Russia and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre at Irbene, Latvia are making radio interferometric experiments on study of ionosphere parameters in a quiet (natural) state of medium and research of artificial turbulence of the ionosphere, heated by the emission from the SURA facility. Remote diagnostics of the ionosphere is implemented using a method of radio sounding by signals of navigation satellites in combination with the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) method. As a result of spectral and correlation analysis, interferometric responses of the two-element (RRI–UNN) and three-element (RRI–UNN–Irbene) interferometers were received by observations of 12 satellites of the navigation systems GLONASS and GPS. Here the first results are reported.

First Results of the VLBI Experiment on Radar Location of the Asteroid 2012 DA14

An international VLBI experiment on radio location of the asteroid 2012 DA14 was organized on 2013 February 15–16, during its flyby close to Earth. The purpose of observations was to investigate and specify orbital parameters of the asteroid, as well as to evaluate its rotation period and other characteristics. The irradiation of the asteroid was performed by the RT-70 transmitter at Evpatoria (Crimea, Ukraine), while the reflected signals were successfully accepted by the two 32 m radio telescopes at Medicina (Bologna, Italy) and Irbene (Ventspils, Latvia). Processing and interpretation of the data were performed both in the Radiophysical Research Institute at Nizhny Novgorod and in the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center. The first results of this experiment are presented and discussed.

Radio Astronomical and Radiophysical Studies in the Near-Earth Space in the Radiophysical Research Institute

The paper describes possibilities of the experimental investigations of the near-Earth space by the facilities of the Radiophysical Research Institute at Nizhny Novgorod. We describe the experimental equipment, development of the research methods and some recent results.

Role of the Radiophysical Research Institute (NIRFI) for promoting and teaching science in Russia

We present, how the Radiophysical Research Institute (NIRFI) has conducted work on the popularization of its scientific achievements in the areas of astronomy, solar physics, the Sun-Earth connection and associated geophysics.